Distancia (m)

Participants were asked how preferable various residence sizes would be if they had to move, considering their household size, finances, health, etcetera. On the whole, houses were more preferable than condominiums and apartments, which were not at all preferable to 57% and 71% of respondents, respectively (n =168; Figure 24). Nevertheless, when preferable and very preferable percentages were combined, small houses and small to medium condominiums were each

preferable/very preferable to 23% of respondents. Overall, medium houses were most favourable, selected by 40% of respondents as very preferable.

Figure 24. Dwelling size preferences (n=168).

Note: Participants were asked to select preferences as if they were choosing a new home, and to consider the size of their household, finances, health, etc. Mean values for each residence size appear above bars and are based on a scale of 1 (not at all preferable) to 5 (very preferable).

5.5.1.1 Comparison: Couples With and Without Children

Couples with at least one child under the age of 18 (n =53) and couples without children (n =58) did not significantly differ in their preferences for most potential future home sizes (where chi square tests were applicable; Appendix B), although small to medium condominiums were more preferable to couples without children than to those with children, Χ² (2, n =111) = 8.90, p=0.012 (Table 14). A similar trend was found for small houses; however, differences were not quite significant, Χ² (2, n

=111) = 5.79, p=0.055 (Appendix B).

Medium house Large house Small house Small to medium

Sizes of potential new places of residence

Very

Table 14. Dwelling size preferences according to couples with at least one child under the age of 18 (n=53), and couples without children (n=58).

Couples with at least one child under age 18 or

Note: Participants were to rate their preference for each dwelling size on a scale of 1 (not at all preferable) to 5 (very preferable) if they had to move, considering the size of their household, finances, health, etc.

5.5.1.2 Comparison: Current Age Groups of Respondents

Dwelling size preferences were also investigated by respondent age group, although the group over age 66 (n=11) was not included in chi square analysis due to low response rates. Preference ratings for large houses and small to medium condominiums differed by age groups of 25 to 45 (n=61), 46 to 55 (n=46), and 56 to 65 (n=34) (where chi square tests were applicable; Appendix B). Preference for large houses decreased with age, as 49% of those between ages 25 and 45 said that large houses were preferable, compared to only 12% of those between ages 56 and 65, Χ² (4, n =141) = 20.98, p<0.001.

Meanwhile, preference for small to medium condominiums increased with age, Χ² (4, n =141) = 21.95, p<0.001*. Only 7% of those between ages 25 and 45 indicated preferences for condominiums compared to 27% of those between ages 46 and 55, and more than 40% of those between ages 55 and 65. Preference for small to medium apartments also appeared to increase with age; however,

expected values were too low for chi square analysis (Table 15). Trends specific to each group are listed below:

 Age 25 to 45: Most respondents preferred medium or large houses, and had low preference for small houses, condominiums, and apartments.

 Age 46 to 55: Most respondents preferred medium houses, and a greater portion preferred small houses than preferred large houses. However, at some point in this age interval, people became more interested in condominiums than people in the 25-45 age group.

 Age 56 to 65: Most respondents (68%) had preference for medium houses, although few had preference for large houses and about 40% had preference for small homes or condominiums.

 Age 66 and older: Forty-five percent of respondents showed some degree of preference for small houses and for condominiums, although small houses were rated as “very preferable”

more often than condominiums. Medium houses and apartments were preferable to the same proportion of people; and large houses were not preferable.

Table 15. Dwelling size preferences according to respondents in age groups 25-45 (n=61), 46-55 (n=46), 56-65 (n=34), and 66 and older (n=11).

Note: Participants were to rate their preference for each dwelling size on a scale of 1 (not at all preferable) to 5 (very preferable) if they had to move, considering the size of their household, finances, health, etc.

5.5.1.3 Comparison: Employed and retired respondents

Retired and employed respondents did not significantly differ in their preferences for moving to small houses, small to medium apartments, or small to medium condominiums (Table 16; see Appendix B).

Although moving to a medium house was the most frequently preferred option for both employed and retired respondents; medium houses were more often considered not preferable/not at all preferable by respondents who were retired than by those who were employed, Χ² (2, n =143) = 16.87, p=0.0002. Preference for large yards was also affected by retirement, with 77% of retired

respondents rating them as not preferable/not at all preferable compared to only 47% of employed respondents, Χ² (2, n=143) = 8.86, p=0.012. Trends specific to each group are listed below:

 Employed: Most respondents preferred medium houses and more preferred large houses than small houses. Only 20% showed some preference for condominiums.

 Retired: Most respondents preferred medium houses, while small houses and condominiums were equally preferable. Both were more preferable than large houses.

Table 16. Dwelling size preferences according to employed (n=113) and retired (n=30) respondents.

Employed or

Note: Participants were to rate their preference for each dwelling size on a scale of 1 (not at all preferable) to 5 (very preferable) if they had to move, considering the size of their household, finances, health, etc

5.5.1.4 Comparison: Household Incomes

Dwelling size preferences appeared to differ across household income brackets (Table 17); however, response rates were not adequate to support chi square analysis of all income brackets. Therefore, responses were grouped into household incomes of $50,000-99,999 (n=49) and $100,000-249,999 (n=51) to be compared statistically. Preference for moving to a large house differed by income group, with 45% of those with a household income between $100,000 and $249,999 rating large houses as preferable/very preferable compared to only 20% of those with a household income between $50,000 and $99,999, Χ² (2, n =100) = 8.65, p=0.013 (where chi square tests were applicable; Appendix B). Trends specific to each group are listed below:

 $50,000-74,999: Medium houses were most often preferable, followed by small houses.

When “preferable” and “very preferable” ratings were combined, condominiums were more preferable than large houses or apartments, although large houses were “very preferable” more often.

 $75,000-99,999: Medium houses were most often preferable, followed by large houses.

Almost no respondent in this group would prefer a condominium or apartment, but about 15% had some preference for small houses.

 $100,000-149,999: Medium houses were most often preferable, followed by large houses.

Condominiums were preferable/very preferable to 22% of this group, which was more than who preferred small houses or apartments.

 $150,000-249,999: Large houses were most often preferable, followed by medium houses.

Small houses and apartments were generally not preferable, but this group had the greatest portion interested in condominiums (31%).

Table 17. Dwelling size preferences according to respondents with household income brackets of

$50,000-74,999 (n=29); $75,000-99,999 (n=20); $100,000-149,999 (n=32); and $150,000-249,999 (n=19).

Note: Participants were to rate their preference for each dwelling size on a scale of 1 (not at all preferable) to 5 (very preferable) if they had to move, considering the size of their household, finances, health, etc.

5.5.1.5 Comparison: Current Home Size and Preferable Future Home Size

An aim of this thesis was to investigate whether participants would change their residence size if they were to move. Interestingly, over 20% of respondents living in any given residence size said that small to medium condominiums would be preferable/very preferable. Too few people living in small or large houses responded to the question to allow for chi square analysis; however, trends specific to each group are listed below:

 Respondents currently in a small home: When asked to rate their preference for each home size, most respondents (88%) said that they would have preference for upsizing to a medium house, and half that amount (44%) said that they would have preference for a small house.

Large houses and apartments were generally not preferable, and respondents in this group represented the greatest portion (31%) with preference for condominiums.

 Respondents currently in a medium home: Most respondents (70%) said that they would prefer a medium house; whereas large houses, small houses, and small to medium

condominiums were only preferable/very preferable to 26%, 24%, and 22% of such respondents, respectively.

 Respondents currently in a large home: Medium houses and large houses were both preferable/very preferable to 56% of respondents; and while small houses and apartments were generally not preferable, residents in this group represented the greatest portion (12%) who rated condominiums as very preferable.

Table 18. Dwelling size preferences according to respondents currently living in small (n=16);

medium (n=127); and large (n=25) homes.

Size of

Note: Participants were to rate their preference for each dwelling size on a scale of 1 (not at all preferable) to 5 (very preferable) if they had to move, considering the size of their household, finances, health, etc